Runners Roost

Race Day Registration

Rescue Run 2018
Mon, Jan 01 @ 10:00 AM

Rain, Snow or 20 Below

Race Director

Race Date

5K 10K,
Mon, Jan 01

General Information

This is a New Year's Day tradition in Colorado Springs. The race doesn't start till 10 AM, so you can still see in the New Year and be plenty refreshed to tackle the challenging 5K and 10K courses in Palmer Park. Bring your friends and family and start the New Year with some healthy competition and even better camaraderie. You won't regret it.

Race Beneficiary

Proceeds of this race go to the El Paso County Search & Rescue (EPCSAR). The EPCSAR is an all-volunteer organization that provides search and mountain rescue services in El Paso County. If somebody gets hurt on Pikes Peak, lost on our many trails, drives off the Pikes Peak Highway, EPCSAR is there to help. Members buy their own equipment and contribute hundreds of volunteer hours for the community. During snow storms, EPCSAR volunteers are out in the storm tending to stranded motorists.

The EPCSAR never charges for their services, year round, 24 hours a day.

Kids Races 9:30 am

For kids of all ages, there will be kids races divided into three divisions, as follows.

Diaper Derby 50 yards

Toddler Trot 1/4 mile

School-Age Sprint 1 mile

These are all untimed events. Parents are asked to sign a waiver for their child on race morning. All kids will receive a ribbon.

Event History

This event started in 1979, and is one of the longest running races in the Pikes Peak Region. The courses have always been tough with ample hills, which is exactly how the El Paso County Search & Rescue likes it. The race was run out of the Penrose Equestrian Center for several years and followed a hilly course along Lower Gold Camp Road.

The race motto is "Rain, Snow, or 20 Below." Usually the weather is ok, but there have been years when winter decided to join the race. The organizers have never cancelled the race, but one year the Colorado Springs Police cancelled the event because of snow, ice and blizzard conditions. However, some runners still went out and ran the course that year in all of winter's glory.

The course moved to Palmer Park in 1995. It has used the same course in Palmer Park since then except in 2000. In 2000, or Y2K, organizers were unable to secure police assistance to close the roads in Palmer Park. This is because the police were worried about all the Y2K disasters that were supposed to happen and assigned all officers to Y2K duties on January 1st. Thus in 2000, race organizers used a different course in Palmer Park that did not cross any of the roads, thus no police assistance was required.

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

Course Information

The courses are challenging and hilly. The 5K course is entirely on paved roads and is an out-and-back. It's all uphill on the way out, and all downhill on the way back. There is one water stop at the turn-around point.

The 10K course is a combination out-and-back and loop course, and is on paved roads, gravel roads, and dirt trails. The first mile is all uphill, then it is flat to rolling for the next couple of miles. Then there's another uphill stretch for about a mile. The last mile and a half or so are pretty much all downhill. The views on the 10K course are spectacular, with panoramic views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range mountains.

5K/10K Selection: The race is being chip timed, thus there will be a single finish chute. Therefore you need to select your distance ahead of time so that we have it correct in the computer. If you decide not to run your selected distance, please notify us at raceresults@pprrun.org, and we'll update it in the computer.

Directions

From southbound I-25

Take the Garden of the Gods Exit (Exit 146)

Head east (away from the mountains) on Garden of the Gods Road

After you cross Nevada Ave, the road name changes to Austin Bluffs Parkway

Proceed on Austin Bluffs Parkway to N Academy Blvd

Turn right onto N Academy Blvd

Proceed to Maizeland Road

Turn right onto Maizeland Road

Take the next right into Palmer Park. The staging area is west of the bathrooms.

From northbound I-25

Take the Uintah Exit (Exit 144)

Head east (away from the mountains) on Uintah

Turn slight left at Palmer Park Blvd (you'll be heading NE)

At Union Blvd, turn slight right and stay on Palmer Park Blvd

Turn left at N Academy Blvd

Turn left at Maizeland Road

Take the next right into Palmer Park. The staging area is west of the bathrooms.

more information from RRCA on the policy Following guidelines from the Road Runners of Clubs of America (RRCA), Pikes Peak Road Runners discourages and in most cases, does not allow use of headphones in its races. The rationale for this is simple: the majority of our races are held on trails, which are crowded with many other runners (and sometimes other trail users). Maintaining one’s sensory capacity during such situations is paramount for the safety of all participants.